When a person - let’s call him George - is called by a scammer, it might be a cold call, where all that’s known is phone number and name (possibly not full name). Actually — let’s make it a robotic voice in an Australian accent talking about a suspected fraudulent eBay purchase. That sort of call usually has a “please call [phone number] if you do not recognise this transaction”. In THAT sort of case, if you phone the number hiding your own number and using a false name, and don’t tell the scammers much, you might be able to avoid giving anything away.
BUT… let me give an example of how it might go and what MIGHT be leaked without the person even realising:
George: I received a call telling me to call this number, about a fraudulent eBay transaction…?
Scammer: Good day to you, sir. Yes, can I just confirm your name?
George: George [lastname].
Scammer: And date of birth?
George: I don’t feel comfortable giving that over the phone. Can you just tell me why you’ve contacted me?
Scammer: Ah, our anti-fraud department has detected a suspicious transaction in your eBay account, and we’ve flagged it as suspicious. It is for $xxx.xx. Did you make a purchase for this amount?
George: No, I did not.
At this point, George has confirmed name and phone number connection, even if he has called back disguising his number - because the scammers already have a list that includes the name and number. That can now be updated with “called back, full name is [nnn], make, sounds in his 50s or 60s, didn’t give DOB, has an eBay account, responded to contact about fraudulent transaction”, and flagged for a later more sophisticated contact. It confirms that he can be engaged, even if this engagement was limited. If he can be engaged, other scams more specifically targeting him have a way in… because engagement is key.
That is why I recommend no engagement.
We all have our blind spots. We all have our weaknesses.
